The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-07
Public Installation of Officers Of
the Order Last Night.
Interesting and Instructive Ad-
dress on the Objects Of the
Order Secret Work
EXemplified.

WnOu1, IHe bcouo5 preseuJtu were uoNel
interesting and instructive. The Gre
monies opened with the regular opening
of a lodge in due form. The grand lodge
then convened, and the newly elected
officers were duly installed by Deputy
Grand Master Workman Hedspeth, by
Special Deputy Grand Master Britt. After
these interesting exercises were concluded
DR.. Chas. S. Morse was introduced by
CO.. II. E. Shelley, and delivered the fol
lowing address on the aims and work of
the order. The address was listened to
with the closest attention, and his remarks
evidently made profound impression.
Dr. Morse spoke as follows:
LADIES AND CONTINENTAL The solic-
itation and in obedience to the call of my
companions, am participant In the
programme which they have prepared for
your entertainment tonight.
In the name of those companions who
have deputt to me the pleasing task, l
tender to you a royal welcome. Upon
this sea of upturned faces l watt thou
sand invocations to your participation in
that spirit of broad brotherhood which
has called us together tonight. Not from
fitness for the task assigned me, but from
the holy ardor l hope to catch from re-
sponsive hearts before me, do l hope to
worthily acquit myself of the duty.
The fact that you are accustomed to the
eloquence of orators and statesmen,
coupled with the fact that this is the first
time have ever attempted to deliver
public address, might cause me to hest
tate before addressing you were it not
that l am called upon to speak under one
of our heads known as "the good of the
order" and while cannot promise to pre-
sent to you in the gaIb of eloquence, the
excellencies of this grand institution,
shall endeavor to briefly review its noted
and most comprehensive features.
am before you for the purpose of ex-
planning briefly and hurriedly the aims
and objects of this organization. 1t will
be impossible for me to dwell at length
upon its grand principles, Its lofty
| achievements and the gigantic strides it
is making on the high road to universal
popularity. Ny remarks must neces-
sarily be brief.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen
is precisely what its title indicates, band
of uni ed workmen. We are not what
some might, without inquiry imagine us
to be, an organization of the laboring
masses exclusively; those who toll from
early morn until night for their daily
bread, and whose objects are to regu-
late the price of labor and designate
their services; but we are mu-
tual beneficiary organization COM
posed of men of all industries, professions
and occupations.
The Supreme Master Workman of the
Universe has declared that all men shall
labor; and, though it be the skillful labor
of the mechanic, the pencil touches of the
artist, or the cultivated mental work of
the student; though it be the manual labor
of the one or the brain work of the other,
still they are all workmen in the field of
labor, and when working together under
the tri-colored banner of our order, they
become workmen indeed; yea, more than
that, they become united workmen,
laboring for the good of each other and
their fellow men.
Ours is fraternal, benevolent associa-
ton, and what institution can possibly be
placed upon grander or stronger pillars
than fraternity and benevolence?
The first step toward the establishment
of our noble order was taken by John j.
Upchurch, aided by six hard working, in
telligent mechanics.
1t was first intended to establish NOR
tuary fund, to be raised by mutual dona
tions. This idea resulted in society
known as the League of Friendship, or
Supreme Mechanics Order of the SUM-"
After mature elaboration, the matter of
formulating a ritual, constitution and
laws for the government of the new order,
was committed to Brother Upchurch, and
the work thus assigned him was COM
peted October 81, 1868.
His work, which was carefully prepared,
was then presented and unanimously
adopted, and from that time the organi-
cation has been known by the selected
name of Ancient Order of United Work
men,"
Fourteen members were duly obligated
under this new ritual and organized JEFF
ferson Lodge No. l, A. o. U. w., located at
Meadville, Pa.
The members of our order recognize as
principle that usefulness to them
selves and Others is duty which should be
the constant care and aim of all men.
Here the speaker read from the ritual
the various teachings of the order.
The order has now entered the nine
teenth year of its existence, and we num-
Der over $4,000 members in the United
States and Canada.
We have distributed during that time
over Sl7,OOO,0O0 to the widows and or
phans of deceased brothers.
The order in this state first planted its
banner in the institution of Lone Star
Lodge No. l, located in this city on tine
3Oth day of January, 1878, with seventeen
charter members,
At different times since the organiza-
ton of our grand lodge, which took place
on the 23d day of January, 1880, Louisi-
ana, Arkansas and the Indian Territory
have been added to our grand jurisdiction.
The order has paid to the widows and
orphans of deceased members of our
Jurisdiction, over $22s,OOO.
Other beneficiary orders are now in
existence, "The Knights of Honor"
knights and Ladies of Honor" Legion
of Honor" "Chosen Friends" etc, end
since the organization of these beneficiary
orders, the sum of one hundred and
twenty-five Millions, nine hundred and
sixty-two thousand, one hundred and five
dollars has been paid to the beneficiaries